Contributing sermons since Oct 25, 2002

Sun City United Methodist Church
Sun City, California 92586
951-679-1016

About Rex

Education: In addition to four years of college (Whitman College) I completed a Masters of Religion at Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, CA.

Experience: I have served as Pastor at Sun City UMC (SCUMC) for ten years. Prior to that, I have served five other UMCs in Arizona and Southern California.

Sermon or series that made a difference: I did a sermon series on J. Ellsworth Kalas' book If Experience is Such a Good Teacher, Why Do I keep Repeating the Course? The "Life Experience" series has 8 or 9 parts, and has been helpful for a variety of church groups.

Family: I am married to wife Barbara, and have two adult daughters and four grandchildren.

Best advice given to me about preaching: Gerald Kennedy (noted Methodist preacher of the mid-20th century) said you should preach "with the Bible in one hand, and the newspaper in the other." Kennedy also used to "test out" his sermons on a 5th grader and if he/she did not understand the sermon, Kennedy would go back and re-work the part that was unclear before delivering the sermon.

Books that have had an impact: The writing of Charles Swindoll (too many books to cite) and C. S. Lewis, William Willimon (UMC teacher and bishop) Robert Schnase (Five Practices of Fruitful Living) Albert C. Outler (the Wesley scholar) Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Paul Tillich have shaped both my theology and spirituality down through the years.

Newest Sermons

Contributed on Nov 28, 2002

based on 31 ratings

| 1,701 views

We must move beyond "comparative gratitude" and an awareness of our good fortune, to "vertical thanks to God who is the source of all blessings.

Introduction: Comparative Gratitude
Thanksgiving, like Christmas, is firmly woven into the American fabric as a tradition. I don’t mean this in a critical way – it is a wonderful occasion to gather families and to share a meal together (something rarer and rarer in this day).
Just as we
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Contributed on Oct 25, 2002

based on 73 ratings

| 7,043 views

First in a series from J. Ellsworth Kalas’ book, IF EXPERIENCE IS SUCH A GOOD TEACHER, WHY DO I KEEP REPEATING THE COURSE?"

The Lessons of Loneliness
By Rex S. Wignall, Chaplain, Valley Christian Home
Genesis 2:8-9, 15-25; Matthew 27:45-46;
Hebrews 12:1-3
Introduction to the Series:
A few years ago, a teacher of preaching named Ellsworth Kalas wrote a book with a catchy title: If Experience Is Such A
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Newest Sermon Illustrations

Contributed on Nov 28, 2002

based on 28 ratings

| 858 views

The Gospel Perspective on Thanks
Because of the great sacrifice Jesus made for each of us on the cross, Christians should have an additional, very personal perspective on thanks. Max Lucado shares this moving story of sacrifice to remind us what Jesus has done in giving His life for us:
It’s
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Contributed on Nov 28, 2002

based on 27 ratings

| 1,225 views

It is clear that the writer of Psalm 100 is calling us to look up, and see the blessings of our God. Warren Wiersbe puts it well when he writes:
Some people are appreciative by nature, but some are not; and it is these latter people who especially need God’s power to express thanksgiving. We
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Contributed on Oct 25, 2002

based on 2 ratings

| 734 views

Sometimes, we are tempted to think we are the only ones who struggle with this burden. Ellsworth Kalas tells the discovery that Thomas Wolfe the fine American writer made about loneliness:
Wolfe was a lonely man. He once thought that loneliness was something suffered especially, perhaps even
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Contributed on Oct 25, 2002

based on 11 ratings

| 921 views

While lonely people shake their fists at heaven and angrily ask, “God why have You forsaken me? Where are you?” we Christians often forget one central fact about God’s personal experience with loneliness. Charles Swindoll reminds us in his eloquent way:
God knows, my friend and He does care.
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